Friday December 20, 2013 O’Reilly and Bernie Goldberg are found laying down their opinions and final arbitration along with full solutions for the Duck Dynasty controversy.

Goldberg repeats the phrase ‘despicable’ and leaves the audience convinced that Dynasty’s Phil Robertson is a young earth idiot who should be dragged out, tarred and feathered and left for dead. What little respect this writer had for pundit Goldberg has now been, all but, completely dissolved.

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Perennially plebed pundit Goldberg will have none of creation science’s latest discoveries that put the age of earth in doubt. But it is his attraction to the just be nice pabulum of the PC prone that is like a flashback to the Get Smart TV series. Secret agent 86 bemoans the fact that the talents of evil people have been wasted because they were not used for goodness and niceness.

O’Reilly, who probably has no idea what ‘plenary verbal’ inspiration means, has more than once raised himself above the word of God in his book ‘Killing Jesus’ and many times on his Factor rants, Bill has assured the public, contrary to the scriptures, that Jesus did not forgive his crucifiers as he hung dying on the cross. (Lk 23: 34)

O’Reilly, no doubt knows what the meaning or error is, but he may want to look up the word ‘pompous’ and use it as the ‘word of the day.’

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Using the most often quoted verse of scripture the non-believer loves to quote to silence the call to repent of bad behaviors, O’Reilly pulls out the old standby – “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Mt 7: 1)

Now, it’s complete, Phil was judging – he is despicable, and the gays are off the hook. God is wishy washy and while homosexuality was an abomination (Lev 20: 13) to God in times past. God has now gotten up to speed with science and grown up a little along with the rest of civilization and now he’s changed his mind – now he is come fully into the twenty first century.

That’s the gist of Bill and Bernie’s baloney, but better theology begs to be given a hearing.

The Duck Dynasty patriarch’s theology is both biblical and sound and when compared to larger than life news anchor Bill O’Reilly’s ‘don’t judge’ rubber ducky theology – the difference is almost laughable.

As a Louisianan I have to offer Mr. O’Reilly a ‘lagniappe’ which is something Phil Robertson is no doubt familiar with and O’Reilly could really use.

It’s simple but profound; it is theological, but a comprehensible concept, without which, anyone seeking the meaning of God’s word would be completely sunk. Let’s see.

It would be easy to get very general and declare that the word of God does not change with the nascent morality of the day. Pop culture derived morality is what brings the world into judgment with God.

The most important, scripture based theology you may ever hear in your life is offered here and passing it by will be the most destructive thing anyone can do. It is not based on my personal theology, and although I’ve made it my own, it is based on sound theology that is reflected in every word of the Bible. It is replete, thematic and recurring throughout the scriptures.

(A) The description of licentious and generally sinful behaviors that the bible provides, including homosexuality, are given not to judge people, but they are there so people will not have to be judged by God.

(B) Declaring that these behaviors are sinful is committed to men and women who in their deep concern are urged, and or commanded to tell others so they will avoid the consequences of their sinfulness. It is not about judging people, it is about leading them to the place of repentance. It is a life saver, not an anchor, with which to drown the sinner with guilt.

A fierce, angry, condemning spirit of character assassination and disdain never work for those called to tell others about their worst behaviors. What we also know is that not everyone is endowed with well-honed diplomatic powers of persuasion. The result is that some people sound like they are judging, while others sound like they are impleading their hearers.

It is hard for anyone to tell another that their behavior is in conflict with God. Yet, it will always be a tool that must be engaged until the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps we should all be thankful that the calling was not laid on all of us that we see put upon the prophet Ezekiel when he was called to address the sinfulness of the nation of Israel. To wit:

“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Eze 3: 18)

Finally, it must be fully noted that the idea of homosexuality being some obscure ancient problem that was addressed by an extravagant and homophobic writer of the Old Testament as an abomination; is a viewpoint rife with error when it is seen that whatever God calls an abomination does not fare well in the end of all things.

In the very last book of the bible, abominable behaviors are summarized and it turns out they are one of the big ticket busters regarding entrance into heaven. Isn’t that what Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson was talking about?

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev 21: 27)

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